In most states, yes — a dental assistant can take x-rays, but almost never without a credential first.
Nearly every state requires a radiology permit or certification, and many accept the Dental Assisting National Board's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam as that qualification.
A few states require their own course or exam instead.
Throughout, the assistant exposes and processes the images; the dentist reads and diagnoses from them.
The short answer
Taking x-rays is one of the most common expanded duties a dental assistant performs — and in the large majority of states it's permitted.
The catch is the credential: almost every state requires you to earn a radiology permit or certification before you may expose dental x-rays, rather than allowing it as a basic, day-one duty.
So the honest answer isn't a flat "yes" — it's "yes, once you're qualified." What that qualification looks like, and how quickly you can earn it, is where states differ.
Radiology rules are state-specific — verify before you operate equipment
The radiology permit and the DANB RHS exam
The qualification most states point to is a radiology permit or certificate showing you've been trained in radiation safety.
The most widely recognized national pathway is DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam — one of the three components of the national CDA, but available on its own.
Crucially, RHS has no prerequisites, so a new assistant can sit it early — often before completing the full CDA — which is exactly why many states accept RHS as the radiology qualification they require.
Some states instead mandate a state-specific course and exam, and a few accept either.
For how RHS fits into the broader credential picture, see our guide to CDA vs. RDA and the dental assistant title maze; for what's actually tested on RHS itself — and how it relates to the other two DANB components — see our breakdown of the DANB CDA exam (RHS, ICE, and GC).
What "taking x-rays" includes — and what it doesn't
When a qualified assistant takes x-rays, the job is to position the patient and sensor, set the exposure, capture the image, and process it — all while following radiation-safety practices that protect the patient and the team.
It's skilled, hands-on work, and it's where a radiology permit earns its keep.
What the assistant does not do is diagnose from the images.
Reading a radiograph to identify decay, bone loss, or pathology is the dentist's responsibility.
The assistant produces a diagnostic-quality image; the dentist interprets it.
How the rules vary by state
The pattern is consistent even if the details aren't: most states allow assistants to take x-rays once they hold the required radiology credential, but the credential differs.
Many accept the DANB RHS exam; some require their own state course and exam; and states like California layer in additional radiation-safety requirements of their own.
A smaller number of states are stricter about supervision or reserve certain radiographic procedures for more-credentialed staff.
Treat these as examples of the range, not a checklist — the only authority for your situation is your state's own rule, which can change.
How to get qualified to take x-rays
For most assistants the fastest route is the DANB RHS exam, which you can prepare for through a course or on-the-job training and take without finishing a full program.
If your state runs its own radiology course and exam, that becomes the path instead — your state board's website lists exactly what it accepts.
Because radiology is often the first permit an assistant earns, it's a natural early step on the credential ladder from trainee to a credentialed hire.
Confirm your state's requirement first, then pick the accepted exam or course before you start operating equipment.
This article is general career information, not legal advice. Radiography certification and scope rules vary by state and change over time — confirm current requirements with your state dental board.